The Memoirs of the Conquistador Bernal Diaz del Castillo Vol. 2

1/25/22, 8:50 PM The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Memoirs of the Conquistador Bernal Diaz del Castillo written by himself, containing a true an…
Zuazo also communicated the mournful death of the excellent father Olmedo, who died
shortly after Cortes' departure from Mexico; thewhole of the inhabitants of which city had
shed tears for the lossof this holy man. He was buried in the church of Santiago, and the
Indians fasted from the day of his decease up to the moment of hisfuneral. The Franciscan
monks held a beautiful funeral oration overhis body, in which they enumerated all his great
virtues, and said that the emperor was as much indebted to him as to us, the veteran
Conquistadores,for the conquest of New Spain; but the still greater praisewas due to him
for giving the Indians a knowledge of God, and for having opened to them the gates of
heaven. They knew, these Franciscanssaid, that he alone had baptized above 2500 Indians;
that thegood he had done by his advice and kindness was endless; and that hehad been a
father to the poor. In short, concluded Zuazo, all is lostin Mexico; and thus matters stood,
when I was thrown on the back ofa mule, and sent in chains to the place whence I date my
letter.
When Cortes had finished reading this letter to us, our grief and vexation were without
bounds; nor did we spare our abuse of him who, in addition to the many hardships and
fatigues we suffered, had alsobrought this calamity upon us. We vented a thousand curses
upon Cortes, as well as upon the factor, and every one expressed his sentiments aloud,
without any reserve. But Cortes himself could not refrain from shedding tears. He again
shut himself up for half a daywith the letter, and would not allow any one to come near
him. When he made his reappearance, we unanimously proposed to him immediately to
embark with the three vessels which lay in the harbour forNew Spain. To this he replied, in
the most affectionate manner, asfollows: "O! my sons and companions, with so worthless a
characteras the factor a person must be particularly on his guard. This manhas at present
the government in his own hands, and is villain enough,if he should get us into his power,
to put us all to death. Wherefore Iintend, with God's assistance, to embark with no more
than four or fiveof you gentlemen, and to land in some harbour where my arrival willnot
be immediately known in Mexico; not, until we are enabled to marchwith a considerable
force into this metropolis: besides which, Sandovalis with too small a body of troops in
Naco for you all to leave him;wherefore you, Luis Marin, must again join him with your
small detachment,and desire him to commence his march as speedily as possiblethrough
the province of Guatimala to Mexico."
[Pg 288]
Our general then wrote to the captain Francisco Hernandez, who wasstaying at Nicaragua,
offering to promote his interests to the utmost ofhis power, and sent him two mules laden
with horseshoes, of which he knew he was in great want; a quantity of agricultural
implements, several splendid articles of dress, and four pieces of beautiful plate, besides
several golden ornaments. With these things a certain Cabrera, one of the five men of
Garro's troops, who had accompanied us to Truxillo, was despatched to the camp of
Hernandez. This Cabrera was a hidalgo bybirth, and a native of Old Castile, an officer of
great courage and muscular power, who subsequently gained so much renown as captain
underBenalcazar. He became quartermaster-general of Blasco Nuñez Vela,and fell in the
same battle with the viceroy.
When I found that Cortes was determined to proceed to New Spainby water, I earnestly
begged he would allow me to accompany him, anddesired him to remember that, in all the
dangers he had undergone,and in the battles he had fought, I never had flinched from his
side;how faithfully I had always cooperated with him to accomplish hisobjects; and that
now he had an opportunity of showing me he valuedthe services I had rendered to him.
When I had done speaking, Cortesgave me a hearty embrace, and said, "If I take you along
with me, myson, who will be with Sandoval? I therefore beg of you to remain withyour
friend, and I swear to you by my beard that I will reward you forit, and believe me I shall
never forget the services you have renderedme." In short, all I might say was to no purpose;
he would not allowme to accompany him.
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